China's economic troubles are hitting tourism during the Golden Week holiday in October, leading to less bookings, according to tourism operators.

The Tourism Council of Thailand said travel agents reported slower booking than usual for China National Day, one of the longest holidays in that country.

The council said the decline is due to a slow economic recovery that is taking a toll on spending as deflation looms.

The Chinese government is also promoting domestic tourism.

The council predicted Thailand could see 500,000 Chinese visitors per month in the fourth quarter because of higher flight capacity. The country welcomed 1 million visitors per month from the mainland in 2019.

The Thai Hotels Association said hotels in Phuket are gradually gaining bookings from Chinese tourists during Golden Week, though they remain subdued compared with past years because of limited flight supply and slow economic growth.

However, Phuket can expect a promising high season thanks to long-haul travellers from Europe and Russia, the association said.